Car-dumping machine.



L. B. JONES.

CAR DUMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1914.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTQI (O, d /r/ /L/, #MM/LLM y ATTonNE WITNESSES L. B. JONES.

(JAR DUMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, w14.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR LLOYD B. JONES, F TOLEDO, OHIO.

CABFDUMPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Application mea April 4, 1914. serial No. 29,464.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYD B. JONES a citizen of the United States, residing at oledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Dumping Machlnes,

'of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machines for dumping cars, and more particularly to that class of machines -used in loadin boats, wherein a standard coal'or ore car 1s raised above a distributing receptacle and the contents of the car dumped therein by tilting the car. The invention has for its primary objects,the provision of an improved car handling mechanism wherein cars are elevated and dumped with great facility; the provision of means whereby a plurality of cars are handled at the same time, thereby saving considerable time in the process of dumping a car and returning it to the car yard; the provision of means whereby cars are received from. the yard and returned thereto with a minimum manipulation and a great saving of time; the provision of improved means for distributing the material into the boats wherein there is considerable saving of time, and such other improvements as will hereinafter appear. One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the car dumping naichiue, showing a boat in position for receiving material dumped from the cars;

f Fig. 2 is :1f-rear elevation of the car dumping machine; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a cradle for the cars; Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the apron and the discharge chute or tube, showing the' boat in section; Fig. 5 is a diagramniatic drawing showing the movement of the cradle during the dumping cycle of its movement, Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the ma-. chine showing its relative position with the f car yard, the dock and the boat, and Fig. 7

is an end view of a cradle showing a pawl mechanism for supporting the cradle independently of the carrier.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the general parts of the machine may be designated by numerals wherein, 1 is a structural frame which carries and supports the car dumping machine, 2 is a rotary cradle carrier for moving the cradles into operative positions,

3, 4, 5 and 6 are cradles suspended between the cradle carrier wheels 2 in which the cars 7 are securel clamped, 8 is a crane carrying the hoists w ereby the cradles are elevated and turned over to dump the cars, 9 is an apron intoA which the material is dumped from the car, 10 is a discharge tube or di'stributer for the material, and 11 is a boat into which the distributer discharges the material dumped from the cars.

The cradle carrier wheels 2 are supported by the rollers 12 mounted on the foundation block 13 and b the rollers 14 mounted upon the frame 1. he rollers 12 and 14 engage the wheels 2 in the grooves 15 in the rims of the wheels which serve as a guide to keep the wheels 2 in proper position, and the wheels 2 are further retained in position by the axles 16, Figs. 1 and 2. The axle 16 merely servesas a positioning member, as the weight of the wheels and their load is carried entirely by the rollers 12 and 14.

The cradles 3, 4, 5, and 6 are suspended between the carrier wheels 2-and are supported on such carriers by means of the pins 17 secured to the cradles resting in the sockets 18 in the depending ends of the hangers 19 pivoted to the carrier wheels-2 at 20. The pins 17 are secured to the upper portion of the ends of the cradles, and as the vcenter of gravity of the cradles is at all times below the pins or the point of support of the cradles, the cradles will always assume the upright position llwh'en supported in the carrier wheels 2.

The hangers 19 turn freely on the pivots 20, and as the sockets 18 are at the opposite end of the hanger relative to the pivots they will always assume the vertical position as shown in Fig. 1, regardlessfof whether a cradle is restin in the sockets or not. The purpose of the angers is to provide a socket into which the cradle pins may be lowered and which will support these cradlesregardless of the position of the carrier wheel. When a cradle is lifted from the sockets they will not change their position, but will remain in proper position to receive the pins of the cradle when the cradle is lowered so that the pins may engage the sockets.

The cradles (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) consist of two solid circular end portions 21 connected by a structural frame portion 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) end portions being provided with openings 23 through which a car may pass into the structural portion. Where it is clamped by any suitable means. such as by adjustable blocks 2l (Fig. 1). The ends 21 of the cradley are supported, when out of the sockets 18, by means oi sprocket chains 26 which surround the grooves 25 Ain the ends 21, these chains being in turn supported over a sprocket Wheel 27.

The two sprockets 2T are connected by the shaft '.28 (Figs. 2 and 3) which extends through two combined support and motor housings 2S). the shaft 29 being driven by a motor 3() within each housing 2S), through the spur gear pinions 31 and the spur gears 32. Normally the housings 29 are supported ipon the gear shrouds 33 on the cradle ends.y

21. by means of the outwardly extending lugs 34 (Figs. 2 and 3). the lugs 34 also serving to prevent rotation of the housings 29 about the axis 28 when the motors arel started for the purpose of rotating the cradles. Each housing 29 is provided at its top with a transverse slot R5 having enlarged openings 3F and 37 at the ends of the slot for the admission and exit respectively. of a T-hook 33 through the openings at the topmost part of the housing 29. and adjacent the transverse slot 85. sockets 3l! are provided to engage the ends of the T-hf'iol 38 when the hook is raise-il after it has entered the slotted opening 3G. The manner of operating the hool-r and the purpose of this peculiar slot and socket eonstruiton will lie .'leseribed later.

in the, marlline disclosed in the drawings. there are four cradles, 3. i, and l employed. out is quite obvious that a greater or less number may he used to a-lvanage. four oradles heing shown for the purpose of illustialinry l'his particular machine. The four cradles are suspended between the carrier wheels; 2, from the pivots '20 which are eqoidistant from the renter of the rarrier wheels i., and spared rqnidistimtly about the circuoiiieience or" the when and in this machine there am four operative stations for .the cradles. riz.y station A where a car T loaded npoo a cradle. smtion l where a cradle is lifted from the Carrier to he subsequently turned over and the ':ontents of a car dumped thereirom, station C where a car is discharged from the cradle by nilffans oli' some suitable ram mechanism (not shown) Iarried by frame l. and station l) where a oar may either be loaded ont-o a cradle or discharged therefrom., iacordiug to whioh operation is found io he the most desirable. There ar sii-aie eei'nliions `vfiliere in it might be des ,ile to alter: 'itely ioad a car at station A and t The cradle rari-ier wheels L) '1 intermittently turned clofkwise. thus oausing the, cradles il. l. 5, and (l to reuse-'ntiely regis ter with a particular station, and each eradle will pass successively the stations A.

l. t'. and I) when the carrier wheels i'. haw made a complete revolution. kThe carrier wheels 2 are mounted independently upoz: the frame 1 and roller lwarin sI 1'.) and ll. but are driven synchrmimisly by means ol chains lo. (Figs. l and which are mashed with the sprockets -ll keyed to the saire shaft l2. Shaft l2 is driven by the motors 123 through motor pinions il. spur gears lf, shaft ifi, pinions 4T and spur gears 48.

Shaft 42 is supported in bearings 4f) car ried by the trame 1. and earries at each end in addition to the sprocket 41. a brake drum 5() (Figs. 1 and 2l provided with a brake band 51 operated by one electric solenoid` or some other suitable. operating means. The purpose ot' this brake mechanism is to gradually stop the rotation of the carrier wheels L when the cradles are alined with the operative stations. and to hold the wheel 2 stationary until it is desired to again advance the cradle to the next station.

The crane h is mounted on the top of thc frame 1 and eax-ries a hoist for elevating the cradles into tinal dumping position. cradle 3 (Fig. l being shown in sueh position. Nm'mally the crane d and the T-bools Ils carried by the hoist are. in the position shown in Fig. and shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. the hooks being connected by a rod or bar 3s". and as a rradle is brought up from station and when almost in operative position with station B. the T-hools :KS which are hanging in their lowermost position entier the openings 3G in the housings 2U. When the :cradles have stopped moving the hoist motors (Fig. il; are started. causing the `l`-lwol s to rise 'through the following media: the motor drives the shaft i3 (Fig. ll through the spur pinion and gear 5l and 35 respectirely. the shalt 58 turns pinions 5G which mesh with gears 57 secured to the cable drums 5R. drums wind up cables 59 which pass over sheaves (l) and thence to 'double sheave blocks (il attarlied to T-iiool 35i, and i'iiallj around douhh` sla-are hlovhs il? mounted oi.

the crane H.

Between the sheave blocks 62 and (i1 are mounted on the underside of the crane two stops (i3 (Fig. 1) which engae sheare blocks (31 when they have been raised a suh'icieut distance. When the hoist motors are started the Cradle is lifted from the station l until the tilting pin at each end o the cradle (Figs, 1 and E) engage stops @rij mounted on the flame 1. at which time ii.- fradle will sluit io rotate about its renier and its vent/er will .sw-ing al'mut the pms as a omiten' of revolt: ion until thal ew pins G6 ai each end of il stops at 7T (Fig. 5 of the .cradle will wauwl the raadhrotate about its center and its rentas wal# "w Profilo miga Mirthe: i f y it; iaf'ffiv 1 O il messes is free to rise vertically.

Before cradle hss been elevate cientlgv .to disengege pins 5l C the shes've blocks 6l {Fig i) stops 63 on the Crane, whiish resiilt :n Crane 8 being pulled up the incline on t e traine l, toward the left, thus bringing the oriiclle into the position shown E in Fig.

i if thI L Just prior to the assuming sition by the cradle the 'tilting gd ngaged from the stops already was dumping apron il. Further Windir e5) upon. the drums 58 il ther to the left. the sind the position sho n in do the pins {t} and i345 Cradle to rotate mainte or' their engage-.nient w merrily es tending wing of the stop The line travel. of the center of the Cradle from time the pins Gl enga-ged the the cradle assumes its hig shown by position of cradle o i position G in Fig. :3, heavy dotted line H.

It has been found tilted into the position l, s portion. of the material remains in t4 Corner l (see mle t, fig'. l), and to dislodge such ma teria] it was found that by turning; the eer oif'eil into the position. of eredie ifi .suoli mit terial would f ll ont withoi ing oi' the er oi Cradle. The i'. e

ed to position F (Fig. pms (Si und G6; :malto turn the wir ze posiionnf (-izidle the motors I iii position as Vig. 'l and is designated by the,

in the housinffs -L are started, which causes the Cradle to rotate. The instant all msterial is dinnped from the cai', the hoist motors if? reversed, ,easing tho erano to descend. ini'zo normal pifsition. and st the saine time the cradle being roteoed the from motors, in the direction of the arrow, im l the I. l lizisz'esnmedits speeds ofthe rotors are so l t the support ig pins i. o ed o); the .iles in the proper to descend e their u @otite sockets '1.55 'when the has suieieiity lowered the. Cradle for them to do so. Shops G7 are mounted s/n.0. the frame i to stop the descent of the freni@ :it the proper platee.

When n Cradle .has i wheels 2,

.'J'Lziiteiil to` looks to sli High the openm that por ly engage the succeeding cradle.

"fienok a bell hook may be suhstitnted, whim would have the advantage of? being always in; proper position to enter the open`V fri therein,

prf ent rocking oi the Cradles when they in operative position, a series of propel-lj.' positioned guides 68 mounted on fi-eme l l and '2) engage the pins 64, 36 and 6? on the ends of the cradles in such nisnner es to prevent the cradles from in the housing and engage the swinging shout the pivot pins 20. The.

guides however, do not interfeze'with the movement of the cradles in their orbit. vv'hile the g1 fies (38 are shown onl et the sitions and l). ny the adaptation of itnlle sipport for them they may bo emploi eti nl; the stations B and. C.

` l ii'oted to the ides 68 at station A (Fig. 7) aree pair of weighted.- pawls G8 which enf se the wins Gil und GG when the pins n seive to support the Cradles when :i Cradle arrives et the station A. where a car is loed eil onto cradle. The pins 64 and 69 engage the side faves of the pawls .and press floi'v'nwnrd 'when passing over them,

and 'when they have assumed the position ier wheel. is up sntlii'ient to canse the cradles to rest upon the guides and the pztwls G8, thereby .relieving the carrier Wheels of any shook when a om* is ,loaded upon the cradle.

Referring to Figs. l and 4, the boat load ing appui? lus will be considered. The contents of the eers is dumped into an pron or reoeptscle 9 which is pivoted at 70 (Fig. 1f) so that it may ne raised by a suitable hoisting Cble Tl to Clear masts, stacks, ete.,y projecting upwardly from the boat, when the hout is being positioned. This apron is prefer" fire. or iX om' loads of ifnateriiil` so that the o'iei'imon of the dumping machine will he more oz' continuous while a boat is being loaded, in case the discharge from the apron is momentarily interrupted. The bottoni of the apron has conrergingwalls whivh slope to s discharge opening T2 which is Closed by e. hinged late 73 controlled by the operator located in the Cabin 74 carried lijf apron frame 75.

Beneath the discharge opening of the fipreiin is rispended from the-pivot 7G e {..Jti'iouting chute or trimmer made of "ons et tubing which are adapted to teles to the left over the guides 68, and whichv .lily inode of sufficient size to hold.

scope one into the other in order to contract at in a direction transverse to the pivot 76, thereby providing a universal joint near the top of the trimmer, permitting the lower' end of the trimmer to be moved in all directions as desired.

hen it is desired to discharge material into the boat, the operator lowers the trimmer to its full extent'7 'by means of the cable 79 secured at one end to the bottom of the apron and passing under the sheave 80 carried by the trimmer, to a drinn S1 controlled by the operator. The gate 73 is then opened and a quantity of material dropped into the boat, such materiale being leveled or trimmed by causing the trimmer to be swung transversely of the boat, or longitudinally thereof, as lmay be'required, over the surface of the material. thus scraping it into proper position.

The trimmer is swung transversely of the.

boat by the cable 82 (Figs. l and 4) cured to the trimmer opposite the sheaves 80, and which passes over the sheaves 83 (Fig. 4) and 84 (Fig. 1) on the apron frame 75.

being Wo'und upon suitthe ends of cable 82 able winding mechanism controlled by the operator. Longitudinal swinging of the trimmer is caused by a similar mechanism operating the cable 85 (Figs. l and l) rcured to the bottom section of the trimmer and passing over the sheaves 8G and 87 can ried by the apron frame 75. lVhen a bulkhead or compartment ot the boat is filled, the trimmer is telescoped and swung longitudinally and transversely so that it 'may clear the partition, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and discharges into the next ycoml'iartment vvithout shutting oill the discharge of material or waiting until the boat is shifted to a new position, thus Saving considerable time in the manipulation of the discharging apparatus. Heretofore it has been necessary to telescope the trimmer and stop dumping the car until the oat was moved to a new position, thus los ing valuable time while the boat was being shifted. This delay was occasioned by the inability to swing the trimmer longitudi nally of the boat and inability to stop the flow of material from the apron.

A general arrangement of the car dumping machine, the boat. and the tracks for the cars. is shown in Fig. (l wherein C is an inclined track leading from the station C of the machine to the car vard J. and is for the purpose of' returning empty cars to the yard, and A is an inclined track leading from the yard J to station A of the machine. An additional track D indicated in Fig. 2 and not visible in Fig. (l. runs parallel to the track A and connects the yard l with station D on the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows. ars are run down either the track A or the track (not. shown) leading to sta- -tion D, and assuming that a car has been run down track it will be loaded onto the cradle by the force of grarity and securely blocked therein. t the sam time a car on cradle 5 is shoved oil' the cradle onto track C and it returns to the, y'ard .l by the force ol gravity.

After a car has been loaded on cradle 3 and a car removed from cradle 5, the carrier wheel motors 4B are started and the car ier turns clockwise until cradle 3 registers at station B. The electric brake is then set and the cradle carrier held stationary While a car loaded onto cradle 4 from track A and an emptiv far removed from cradle 6 onto track C', and while cradlel 3 is being elevated, dumped and replaced on the hangers 19 at station B.

W ien cradle El is moved into operative position at station ll the cradle automaticall;I engages the hoist 'llioole and when the cradle carrier comes to rest, the hoist motors 52 are started, causing the cradle 3 to be raised Yfrom the Socket hangers 19. diately after the pins are free from the sockets lli in the hangers lll, the pinsy (S4 engage the stops (35 and the cradle is: tilted as it is elevated. in the manner previously described. lVhen the sheave blocks (Si. en gage the stops 63 on the crane the crane-is pulledY te the leit by cables 59 carrying the -cradle ont over the apron tl- Where it is t used to be rotated a complete revolution, damping contents into the apron 9.

all material dumped from the car in cradle the hoist niotors are reversed, causing' 2in1, crane to return to normal posir tion, and the hoist to lou'er the cradle ont@ thehangers if). carried by the cradle carrier. When the cradle is received bj.' the carrier,- tlie electric brake is released and 'the carrier motors arc again started to rot" the cradle carrier clockwise so as to ri; cradle 4f with the dumping' station l The first movement ol cr aiitoniaticalljY releases. the hooi; frei the cradle. in thc manner pre'frousl.' de scribed, and tlieliook is then ie'tt in position to automaticall;y engage cradle #l when it is brought into position. (on the arrival of a new cradle at thc dumping station. the op eration just ilcscrilfed la repeated and :i full car is loaded onto the ma liine :it taticn i and an empty car disclmr` fl at station C,

operations being 5?- in its orbit and so on. :iii the cated. Material received in the apron is fl mtefi to the boats in the manner prevu v delmme- Atical positn during: the

,nguyfzmmsl im' imm, a 'm Mmmm@ meub-'m ing; time mw a kfw-r l 1.x' manna for pgz'ewniyngj i3. En www me :amd f-x'mios La@ aux wins whereby She carriers are as Wim the Hiationfs. :n En a me? dumpmg malfxliuf .hmmg :vi rriaiumhtlv ot @yV/H1215 stm nur' humping mank the cradles, means for intermittently rotating the cradle Acarrier whereby the Cradles are brought into operative positions with the stations, and means engaging the cradles for holding the cradles in operative position.

17. In a car dumping machine, a. cradle for the car, a hoist for elevating the cradle into dumping' position, tilting means engaging;r the cradle and eoaeting with the hoist for tilting' the cradle as the cradle is raised, and means reacting with the hoist for disengaging the tilting means.

18. In a ear dumping),f machine, a Cradle for the car. a hoist for elevating,r the cradle into dumping position, tilting means engagh ing the cradle and coat-ting with the hoist for tilting the cradle as the cradle is raised, and means coaeting with the hoist for disengaging' the tilting means when the Cradle has been tilted a predetermined distance.

15). In combination in a ear dumpingr machine, a cradle adapted to receive a car, a rotary earlier for the cradle adapted to more the cradles trom'car receiving position to car dumping positionLand means whereby the cradle is supported independently of the carrier when a car is received by the cradle.

20. In combination in a car dumping machine, a cradle adapted to receive a ear, a rotary carrier for the cradle, and means whereby the cradle is supported independentliY ot' the carrier when a car is received by the cradle.

2l. In combination in a car dumping machine` a cradle adapted to receive a ear, a r0- tary carrier for the cradle, and means whereby the cradle is supported independently of tht` Carrier when a ear is being dumped.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of thetwo subscribed witnesses.

LLOYD B. JONES. lVitnesses JULIAN Il. KnNnIG. AnCHwonTH MARTIN. 

